Ethephon is an organic compound, which is white acicular crystal, easily soluble in water, methanol, acetone, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, slightly soluble in toluene and insoluble in petroleum ether. Used as an agricultural plant growth stimulant. Ethephon is a high-quality and efficient plant growth regulator, which can promote fruit ripening, stimulate bleeding and regulate the gender transformation of some plants. Ethephon, like ethylene, mainly enhances the ability of RNA synthesis in cells and promotes protein synthesis. In the plant abscission area, such as petiole, fruit stalk and petal base, the increased protein synthesis promotes the re synthesis of cellulase in the abscission layer, because it accelerates the formation of abscission layer and leads to organ abscission. Ethephon can enhance the activity of enzymes, activate phosphatase and other enzymes related to fruit ripening, and promote fruit ripening. In senescent or susceptible plants, peroxidase changes are caused by Ethephon promoting protein synthesis. Ethylene can inhibit the synthesis of endogenous auxin and delay plant growth. Ethephon is a plant growth regulator. It has the physiological effects of enhancing hormone secretion, accelerating maturation, abscission, senescence and promoting flowering. Under certain conditions, ethephon can not only release ethylene itself, but also induce plants to produce ethylene.
Main uses of Ethephon
Promote female flower differentiation: Spray 150-200 mg / kg ethephon on the plant at the three leaf stage of zucchini, and then spray it every 10-15 days for 3 times, which can increase the female flowers, mature 7-10 days earlier, and increase the early yield by 15% – 20%.
Promote fruit ripening: Tomato ripening can be accelerated by coating pedicel, soaking fruit and coating fruit. Field fruit spraying for ripening: during one-time harvest in the later stage, use 1000mg / kg ethephon solution to spray fruit on the plant.
Breaking plant dormancy: Soaking ginger seeds with Ethephon before sowing can significantly promote ginger germination, showing fast germination speed and high seedling emergence rate. The number of buds on each seed ginger increases from 1 bud to 2-3 buds. When soaking seeds with Ethephon, the use concentration should be strictly controlled. The appropriate concentration is 250-500 mg / kg, which can promote germination, increase branches and improve rhizome yield. If the concentration is too high, up to 750 mg / kg, it can significantly inhibit the growth of ginger seedlings, showing that the plants are short, the stems are thin and weak, the leaves are small, and the rhizomes are small, resulting in yield reduction.